Mr. Rooney came up with the current salary cap plan that the NFL uses so he knows how to work it.

Some bonus' count against the cap. Signing bonus', those bonus that are likely to be earned.

This year we are $1m below the cap which essentially means that we have spent everything we could when you count in the bonus' that were likely to be earned (were earned) by Ben and other players. Also we may not actually be $1m below now since there have been some player changes (Nate Washington) during the season.

Players salaries are backloaded, meaning a player getting a four year contract is paid like this: